Maoists hoist black flags across Bihar

Maoists, who had called for a boycott of Republic Day celebrations, hoisted black flags in several Bihar districts and also set ablaze a house.

The ultras unfurled black flags on school premises in a number of villages of Sitamarhi, Gaya, Lakhisarai and Muzaffarpur districts, officials said. The ultras raided Kathor village in Bihar's Munger district on Tuesday night and burnt a thatched house, Additional Superintendent of Police S B Lande said, adding no one was injured in the incident.

They later hoisted a black flag at a school under Dharhara police station, Lande said.

The naxalites also hoisted black flags at schools at Morsand under Runnisyedpur block, at Lulha Dumra and Chandauli panchayats under Belsand block in Sitamarhi district and Jinaura, Bhalui, Manpur, Bataspur and Basuachak villages under Chanan police station area in Lakhisarai district, sources said.

In addition, the ultras unfurled black flags at more than two dozen places under Sherghati block in the naxalite infested Gaya district in protest against the Republic Day celebrations, the sources added.

The Maoists also left pamphlets at several places in Bihar, calling upon the people to boycott Republic Day celebrations, they said, adding the civil and police officials reached there and removed the banners and black flags.